Pouring and closing cap for receptacles



March 3, 1942. E. D. Moss 2,274,844

POURING AND CLOSING CAP FOR RECEPTACJES Filed sept.y e, 1,938 l Patented Mar. 3, 1942 POURNG AND CLOSING CAP FOR RECEPTACLES Everett D. Moss, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Max Mitchell, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 6, 1938, Serial No. 223,627

14 Claims.

M y invention relates to pouring and closure caps for use on jars, bottles, pitchers, and similar fluid containing receptacles and it has particular reference to caps oi the character embodied in my co-pending application Serial No. 203,130, filed April 20, 1938, wherein the cap is of domeshaped form and provided with a pouring spout, with a closure of corresponding curvature operable to cut oli the liquid in a manner to prevent the same from dripping, and a spring or other urging means for normally maintaining the closure in spout closing position.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a cap for receptacles in which the spring or other urging means is free and floating and completely isolated from the fluid in the `receptacle so as to eliminate any possibility of contamination of the fluid by the spring.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a cap for receptacles in which the spout closure is mounted for sliding movement on the cap in such manner as to prevent the possibility of the fluid contained in the receptacle from entering between the surfaces of the cap and closure and interfering with the smooth operation of the closure.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a cap for receptacles wherein the closure is readily detachable from the cap for the purpose of cleaning both the cap and closure when necessary, and, in addition, the spring, a1- though housed exteriorly of the cap, is removable with detachment of the closure from the cap to permit substitution of a new spring when required.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision in a cap for receptacles of means automatically operable to retard closing movement of the closure under the action of the spring, and to thus eliminate the noise and jar incident to snapping of the closure to spout-closing position as occurs in prior devices.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a cap for receptacles in which the closure member when in spout-closing position, eX- tends beyond or overhangs the spout and thus presents in conjunction with the exterior surface of the spout, to any fluid and particularly syrup, sufficient surface area for such adherence of the fluid as to prevent the fluid from running down the sides of the cap and receptacle.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a cap for receptacles in which means is provided for wiping the closure clean on its under side of any fluid with each movement thereof to spout opening position, thereby precluding the possibility of fluid accumulating between the cap and the closure.

I will describe only one form of pouring and closure cap for receptacles embodying my invention and will then point out the novel featuresv ceptacles embodying my invention, and in anv appliedposition on a receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the cap in top plan and with a portion of the closure and latch member thereof broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,- and showing the closure memf ber of the cap in closed position. v

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the closure member in open position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the latch of the cap in released position and the closure member in partly detached position.

n Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the cap in rear'elevation and with a part of the closure member broken away.

Fig. 8` is a horizontal sectional View taken o the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a hollovt1 body B of cupped, semi-spherical or domeshaped form so as to have an arcuately curved outer or upper side on which a closure member C of like curvature is adapted to slide in a channel l5. This channel is formed by recessing the upper surface of the body B and forming the side walls of the recess with grooves I6 in which are slidably received tongues Il on the opposite edges of the member C, all as best shown in Fig. 6. This tongue and grooved connection in addition to mounting the closure for sliding movement secures the closure member againstV lateral displacement from the cap body, and prevents the possibility of syrup or any other fluid from passing outwardly of the cap from the under side of the'closure member and cap.y This is due to the joints provided by the tongue and groove connectionthrough which a fluid would have to .pass to reach the outer surface of the cap or closure member.

The closure member C is in the form of an inflexible strip permanently curved to substantially the same longitudinal curvature as the channel so as to lie nat therein and to be slidable on the body to open and close a pouring spout I8 formed in the cap B. To minimize the area of contact between the closure member and the cap body to reduce friction between the two, and yet at the same time to prevent air from interfering with the easy operation of the closure member, the bottom wall of the channel I is provided with a recess I9 at a point between the ends of the channel, as best shown in Fig. 2. Communicating with the recess is a vent port 20, relatively small, so as to preclude the passage of syrup or other fluid into the recess but sufficiently large to allow the free circulation .of air into and out of the recess thereby eliminating the possibility of air being trapped in the recess and impeding movement of the closure member.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the recess I 9 terminates short of one end of the channel I5 to provide at a point at the inner side or edge of the spout a wiping element 2I for the under side of the closure member C. This wiping element functions to wipe the under side of the closure member as it is moved to spout-opening position, so that any syrup adhering to the closure member will be removed therefrom and deposited into the receptacle, rather than `to be carried rearwardly with the closure member to clog the channel and thus interfere with the smooth operation of the closure member.

The cap body B is provided with the conventional internally threaded collar 22, and integral with the collar is a radial projection 23. On to the lower side of this projection is secured a handle 24, while between the handle and collar projection 23 is formed a barrel 25 closed at its lower end and opened at its upper end. Slidable in this barrel 25 is a second barrel 26 open at its lower end and provided at its upper end with a transverse slot 2l. This barrel 23 is formed integral with the closure member C, and from the.

adjacent end of the closure member, extends an upper operating extension or thumb piece 28.

As will be observed from Figs. 3, 4 and 5,7both barrels 25 and 26 are curved longitudinally so as to beconcentric to the curvature of-the cap bodyl and closure member. This is in order that free movement of the barrel 26 within the barrel 25 may be afforded in the movement of the closure member to open and close the spout I6. As best shown in Fig. 8, those exterior walls 25a and 26a of the barrels 25 and 26 adjacent the collar 22 are flat transversely, while the opposite walls 25h and 23h are rounded transversely, except at the center where they are flat,

These flat portions are co-extensive in length f with the barrels, and as are the walls 25a and 23a, such flat portions are longitudinally curved in arcs concentric to the closure member, except the lower end of the wall 25h and the upper end of the wall 25o, where they are curved in different arcs to provide friction faces 25e and 26C. This is for the purpose of causing the faces 25C and 26e to gradually bind one against the other as the The spring 30 also serves to urge a latch L to:

latched position. This latch is in the form of a lever pivoted on a pin 3I which extends through the closure member at the upper end of the barrel 26. The lever is formed with two bills 32 and 33, a tapered extension S, and a straight edge portion 35. In the latched position of the lever the straight edge portion 35 extends into the slot 2'1 to be engaged by the spring 3l)` so that the spring functions to urge the lever to latched position. The extension 34v is so tapered that with the latch lever in latched position it lies substantially flat against the closure member to prevent accidental movement thereof to released position, and also permitting the finger nail to be extended therebeneath for lifting and. moving the lever to released position.

The bill 32 functions as a valve for closing a slot-shaped vent port 36 when the closure is in spout-closing position, This port is formed at the upper end of a groove 3'I in the upper side of the cap body, and in this groove the bill or`valve 32 slides with movement of the closure. The port 36 is for the purpose of admitting air to the cap and receptacle when the spout I8 is open, so that fluid can be freely poured from the spout.

The upper wall of the port 36 is flat as indicated at 36a to form a keeper for the latch stop 32, so that the two coact to secure'the closure member C against being withdrawn from the channel I5 in the direction o-f the spout I8, and also to dene the closed position of the closure member wherein the forward end thereof overhangs the spout to form a fluid retaining lip I8a. Manifestly, by lifting the latch to the released position shown in Fig. 5'wherein the stop 33 abuts the barrel 26 while the stop 32 is moved clear of the keeper 36a, the entire closure member can be withdrawn from the body channel I5, and thus the closure, the barrel 26 and the latch L may be detached from the cap body. By this mode of disassembly all parts of the device are accessible for cleaning.

In the partly detached position of the closure member as shown in Fig. 5, the barrel 26 is completely withdrawn from the barrel 25 to permit removal of the spring and the substitution of another if required.

When liquid or other luid' is t0 be poured out of the receptacle, the user grasps the handle 24 and draws the closure member C to open position by pressing downwardly on the extension or thumb piece 28 which acts against the tension of the spring 30 and opens'the spout I8. During this pouring operation air is admitted to the receptacle through the port 36, the valve. 32 now being in open position, as shown in Fig. 4. As the closure member is moved to open position its under side wipes against the surface 2| to remove any liquid therefrom so that it cannot be carried back between the closure and cap body.

When sufcient quantity of liquid has been poured out the thumb piece isreleased thus a1- lowing the spring 30' to cause the closure member to slide over the spout and cut 01T the stream in a manner to prevent dripping.` Concurrently therewith, the valve 32 closes the port 36 and thus the entire cap is sealed against the ingress of air or the egress of the liquid.

As the closure member C approaches fully closed position the barrel 26 vin its rising movement bringsthe surface 26C into contact with the surface 25o and because of the relation of these surfaces such friction is set up as to retard movement of the closure as lit approaches fully closed position.` Thus the spring 3U is prevented 'from thrusting Athe closure to closed position with a Vforce likely to break the closure and its attached parts, or throwthe latch to released position. Also al1 objectional noise is eliminated.

The lip |811 of the closure member functions in the closed position of the latter to provide an additional surface to which any liquid remainingl tached from the cap body by merely moving the latch L free of the keeper 36a when the closure member can be withdrawn from the cap channel l5.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of pouring and closure caps for receptacles embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap for receptacles, comprising a curved body having a pouring spout; a barrel Xed on the body and curved so as to be concentric of said body; a closure for said spout of substantially the same curvature as said body and mounted for sliding movement thereon tov open and close the spout; a second barrel xed on said closure and curved on the same radius as the iirst mentioned barrel and telescoping within the latter; and an expansive spring Within the barrels and acting to urge the closure to spout closing position.

2. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a curved body having a pouring spout; a barrel iixed on the body and curved so as to be concentric of the curvature of said body; a closure for said spout of substantially the same curvature as said body and mounted for sliding movement thereon to open and close the spout; a second barrel xed on said closure and curved on the same radius as the iirst mentioned barrel and telescoping within the latter; an expansive spring within the barrels and acting to urge the closure and engageable with the body for releasably securing the closure against endwise detachment from the body and for defining the closed position of the closure.

3. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a domeshaped body having a pouring spout and a vent opening; an elongated closure for said spout of substantially the same curvature as said body and mounted for sliding movement on the body to close and open said spout; a spring interposed between the body and closure exteriorly of the body for urging the closure to closed position; and a latch p-ivoted on the closure for detachably securing the closure against endwise displacement from the body and for opening or closing the vent opening according as the closure is in spout opening or spout closing position.

4. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a curved body having a pouring spout; a barrel fixed on the body; a closure for said spout slidably mounted on the body and of substantially the same curvature as said body; a second barrel xed on the closure and slidable in the first mentioned barrel; a spring within said barrels for urging the closure to spout closing position; coacting means on the closure and body for defining the closed position of the closure; said barrels having surfaces acting to retard movement of the second mentioned barrel under the action of said spring as the closure moves to spout closing position, whereby movement of the closure to spout closing position is retarded.

5. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a body having a pouring spout; an elongated closure slidably mounted on the body to open and close the spout; a spring for urging the closure to spout closing position; la latch pivoted on the closure to occupy one position in which it engages the body to .define the closing position of the closure and to secure the closure against detachment from the body, and another position in which it disengages the body to permit detachment of the closure from the body.; and means on the closure for sliding the latter against the action of the spring to open the pouring spout.

6. A cap for receptacles as embodied in claim 5, wherein said spring engages Ythe latch to releasably secure the latter in body engaging position.

7. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a body having a pouring spout and a channel; a closure for the spout slidable in said channel; the bottom of said channel being recessed for a portion of its length between its ends to reduce the area of surface contact between the closure and the body; and a port in the body at oneend of said recess to allow th'e free circulation of air into and out of said recess so'as not to impede movement of the closure in the channel.

8. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a body having a pouring spout; an elongated closure slidably mounted on the body to open and close the spout and removable endwise from the body; a latch pivoted on said closure to occupy one position in which the closure is secured against endwise removal from the body, and another position in which the closure is free to be removed endwise from the body; and means on th'e closure for sliding the latter to open and close the spout.

9. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a body having a pouring spout; a closure slidable on the body to open and close the spout; barrels on the closure and the body slidably interitted; and a spring housed between the barrels and acting to urge the closure to spout closing position.

10. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a domeshaped body having a pouring spout at one edge thereof, and a barrel at an opposite edge thereof; a closure slidable on the body to open and close the spout and having a barrel telescopically associated with th'e iirst mentioned barrel, both of said barrels being curved on arcs concentric of the body; and a spring housed within the barrels and acting to urge the closure to spout closing position.

1l. A cap for receptacles, comprising; a domeshaped body having a pouring spout at one edge thereof, and a barrel at an opposite edge thereof; a closure slidable onthe body to open and. close the spout and having a barrel telescopically associated with the rst mentioned barrel, both of said barrels being curved on arcs concentric of the body; a spring housed within thel barrels and acting to urge the closure to spout lclosing position; and a latch pivoted on the closure for detachably retaining the closure against endwise detachment from the body and en- .gagable with the body for dening the closed position of the closure.

12. A cap for receptacles as embodied in claim 11, wherein an opening is formed in the second mentioned barrel through which' the spring engages the latch for securing the latter in a position to retain.the closure against detachment 4from the body.

13. A cap for dispensing Viscous liquids, comprising: a body of semi-spherical form having a dispensing spout; an arcuate closure slidably mounted on the exterior of the body to open and close the spout; opposed extensions on the closure and body; an expansible spring between the extensions for urging the closure to spout-closing position; a keeper on the body; and a latch pivoted on the closure to occupy one position in which it is adapted to abut the keeper for dening the closed position of the closure and maintaining the closure against detachment from the body and another position in which the closure is detachable from the body.

A 14. A cap for dispensing Viscous liquids, comprising: a body of semi-spherical form having a dispensing spout; an arcuate closure slidably mounted on the exterior of the body to open and close the spout; opposed extensions on the closure and body; a keeper on the body; a latch pivoted on the closure to occupy one position in which it is adapted to abut the keeper for defining the closed position of the closure and maintain-ing the closure against detachment from the body, and another position in which the closure is detachable from the body; and an expansible spring between the extensions for urging the closure to spout-closing position and for maintaining the latch in the 'rst-mentioned position.

EVERETT D. MOSS. 

